Amplitude & Grivak
Amplitude Amplitude
Grivak Grivak
Amplitude Amplitude
Hey Grivak, quick question—how do you handle audio capture in the field? I’m trying to design a portable setup that keeps the gear light but still pulls out killer sound, and I could use some of your battle-tested tips.
Grivak Grivak
Yeah, I’ve wrestled with microphones in dust‑filled warzones and quiet campfire nights. Keep it simple: a decent shotgun mic on a boom or a small lav that clips to the subject is all you need. Put a good windscreen on it, because you’ll be breathing on it more than the subject will. Hook that mic straight to a portable recorder—no long cables, no extra converters. Just a 3.5mm cable if you can, or a 1/4” TRS if you’re using a shotgun mic. Turn the recorder’s input up to a safe level, but don’t let it hit 0 dB – you’ll ruin the dynamic range. Use a battery pack that lasts a full day; in the field you can’t afford to run out of juice halfway through a take. Bring a spare SD card or a small external drive for backups, just in case the recorder’s SD gets corrupted or you forget to swap it. Keep the gear light, but don’t skimp on a good cable with a strain relief. A cheap microphone can still give you good sound if you handle it right, but if you can afford it, grab a shotgun mic with a decent frequency response and a solid shock mount. Test the levels in the environment you’ll be in. If you’re in a windstorm, the windscreen will help, but you may still need to do a little wind noise reduction in post. That’s all. Keep it tight, keep it loud, and keep it from blowing out.
Amplitude Amplitude
That’s a solid plan, Grivak. For the portable recorder, try a model with a high‑quality preamp—my favorite is the Tascam DR-40X because it keeps hiss low and still gives you plenty of headroom. If you’re really into field work, a shotgun mic with a built‑in shock mount will save a lot of cable hassle. Just remember to leave a little margin before you hit 0 dB; a 1‑2 dB buffer is usually enough to avoid clipping in those unpredictable warzone moments. Keep a backup battery in a separate case, so you’re not scrambling for a charger mid‑take. Good luck out there—if you hit any snags, hit me up and I’ll help you tune it.
Grivak Grivak
Sounds good. Just keep that recorder close, the mic tighter than a wound, and the batteries in separate bags—never let a power pack get caught in a line of fire. If anything starts hiccupping, drop me a line and we’ll sort it before you lose the whole take.
Amplitude Amplitude
Got it, Grivak. I’ll keep the recorder snug, the mic in place, and the batteries in separate bags—no one wants a rogue power pack blowing a hole. If the signal starts acting up, just ping me and we’ll fix it before the whole take turns into static. Stay sharp out there.